Following controversial remarks about Fidel Castro by Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen, a Cuban exile group planned a protest and boycott of the team, and the head of the Miami-Dade County Commission called for Guillen’s resignation.

By Melissa Sanchez and Patricia Mazzei
pmazzei@MiamiHerald.com

The Cuban exile group Vigilia Mambisa has called for a protest at noon Tuesday against the Miami Marlins stadium in Little Havana, in response to recent statements by the team manager, Venezuela-born Ozzie Guillen, in which he expressed admiration for Fidel Castro.

“We strongly disagree with the opinion of Ozzie Guillen, and consider it a provocation against the Cuban and Venezuelan communities,” said Miguel Saavedra, head of Vigilia Mambisa. “Tomorrow starts a boycott. We are asking for the resignation of Guillen.”

Miami-Dade County Commission Chairman Joe Martinez also called for Guillen’s resignation.
In an article published by Time magazine’s Internet edition, Guillen is quoted as saying, “I love Fidel Castro.”

Guillen also stated: “I respect Fidel Castro,” Time reported. “You know why? Many people have tried to kill Fidel Castro in the last 60 years, yet that is still there.”

Same group helped disrupt the 2000 Presidential election vote recount in South Florida, as you may remember:

Have Bullhorn, Will Travel

Most anti-Castro groups shun partisan presidential politics, but not Miguel Saavedra and his merry band of protesters

AAAComments (2) By Jacob Bernstein Thursday, Dec 7 2000

The call came over the airwaves as it had so many times before. On Wednesday, November 22, Radio Mambí (WAQI-AM 710) and La Poderosa (WWFE-AM 670) reverberated with the cries of political advocates, among them U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and state Sen. Mario Diaz-Balart, urging people to descend on the Stephen P. Clark Government Center in downtown Miami.

Enraged Republican operatives imported from dozens of states needed help. The Republicans, mainly congressional staffers, already had filled the county-election department reception area, banging on doors and shouting in protest of a decision to count ballots away from public view. A number of them even had accosted a local Democratic Party stalwart, chasing after him in the false belief he had stolen a ballot.

It was no secret which political party the majority of local Cuban Americans supported. Stung by Elian Gonzalez's violent removal in April, a popular slogan in Little Havana this past summer was "Mr. Clinton, we will remember in November."

But this time few heeded the call. In fact only one anti-Castro exile organization of the scores that operate in South Florida reinforced the Republicans. Vigilia Mambisa mustered about 25 people for a demonstration outside the county hall, where they gamely shouted, "We want Bush! No more Gore!" Leading them in the chants through his bullhorn was Mambisa president Miguel Saavedra. He and some of the others, encouraged by GOP officials, would continue to follow the Republicans throughout the week as the demonstrations moved from Miami-Dade to Broward and then on to Palm Beach.